The '''European Economic Community''', ''European Free Trade Zone, or simply European Community, was formed in 1957 to promote trade among countries of Western Europe. It became the [[European Union]] in 1993., after the [[Maastricht Treaty]] in 1992. | The '''European Economic Community''', ''European Free Trade Zone, or simply European Community, was formed in 1957 to promote trade among countries of Western Europe. It became the [[European Union]] in 1993., after the [[Maastricht Treaty]] in 1992. |